When the callout came on Monday 28 February for volunteers and with flood waters rising around the state, more than 500 Surf Lifesavers put up their hands to help. To date, more than 700 volunteers have been involved in one of the state’s biggest natural disasters.
Since the crisis began, the number of surf lifesavers involved in the flood relief effort has grown to more than 700, with a massive effort mounted by volunteers on the flood frontline to assist SES and Police with the unfolding disaster.
Callout teams in IRBs have been conducting evacuations of people and in some cases animals stranded by floodwaters, assisting with food drops and supporting other emergency services organisations with logistics.
Along with IRBs, Duty Officers have been positioned in all of the Emergency Operations Centres as Liaison Officers and UAVs have been deployed to provide intel on conditions and will continue to assist in the recovery phase of the disaster.
More than 90 UAV operators were either on standby or in the field, giving the SES vital aerial intelligence on the extent of the disaster.
NSW Director of Lifesaving, Joel Wiseman, has thanked all those involved and everyone who has offered to assist, either in their local area or to travel to flood affected areas to help.
“The response to the callout for volunteers has been amazing,” he said. “I’m so proud to be part of an organisation where so many people are willing to drop everything and lend a hand, including some of our members who themselves have lost their homes in this disaster.”
Thursday 10 March 2022
